Mirror Mirror

Chapter 3: Same Yet Different

Akala ko ghoster... totoong ghost pa nga ata, Martina thought.

The next morning, Martina awoke with a heavy heart. She couldn't shake the strange feeling that had settled deep within her, a mix of confusion, fear, and an unexplainable connection to Alex.

She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes as she tried to clear her mind. But no matter how hard she tried, the timeline on Alexandria's chart, the possibility that she might have encountered a ghost, and the memory of their time on the island wouldn't leave her.

"Morning," Sabrina said as she walked into the room, already dressed and ready for the day. She gave Martina a knowing look, sensing her bestfriend's unease. "Ano? Ang aga-aga ganyan mukha mo."

"Just processing everything," Martina replied, though her voice lacked conviction.

Sabrina sat down on the edge of the bed, and said, "Nakausap mo naman na low-luh mo diba?"

Martina nodded. "Oo. Pinagalitan pa 'ko. Sabi ko nalang bigyan ko siya agad ng apo."

Sab laughed. "Sabihin mo nga LO—"

Martina played along, amused. "Lo?"

"LA!" Sab's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"La."

"Lola!" Sab said, barely holding back her laughter.

"Lowla?" Martina mumbled, her brows knitting in confusion.

"Hay, wala ka na talagang pag-asa. Sige na, magready ka na!" Sab exclaimed.

Martina chuckled. "Kikilos na nga oh."

"Excited ka lang makita siya ulit eh," Sab teased, flashing a cheeky grin.

After getting ready, they headed to the hospital, determined to dig deeper into Alex's past. They started by requesting a meeting with a doctor who had handled her case before her transfer. It wasn't long before they were led to a small office where a middle-aged doctor was waiting for them.

"Dr. Marquez," the doctor introduced himself, offering a polite nod. "I understand you have questions about Ms. Andres?"

"Yes po," Martina began, trying to keep her voice steady. "We're trying to understand her case, particularly the timeline of her surgeries. There seems to be some confusion about when certain events occurred."

Dr. Marquez looked thoughtful as he pulled up Alexandria's medical records on his computer. "Let's see... Ms. Andres underwent several surgeries before being transferred here, all of which were documented thoroughly. What specifically are you finding confusing?"

Martina exchanged a glance with Sabrina before continuing. "It's just... the dates of her surgeries overlap with a time when she was supposed to be somewhere else. In fact, she was with me during that period—on an island. But according to the records, she was in surgery the entire time."

Dr. Marquez raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "That is unusual. Are you certain about the dates?"

"Beh, patranslate nalang mamaya ah. Dinudugo na ilong ko eh," Sab whispered, prompting a death glare from Martina.

"Absolutely," Martina confirmed. "We were together during those days. But if she was in surgery... how could that be possible?"

The doctor leaned back in his chair. "I've been in this profession for many years, and I've seen my share of strange cases, but this... If what you're saying is true, it would mean she was in two places at once."